Celebrating the sun at Menlo Park Farmers Market

Everyone was having the same conversation at this morning’s Farmers Market – “Thank goodness it stopped raining. So glad to see the sun.” That prompted us to stop by one of the market’s sunniest vendors, K and K Farms, which brings a variety of citrus grown in Orange Cove, CA, exclusively to the market. Why only Menlo?

“We love the people here and it’s a good area to showcase our citrus,” said Jacob Scroggins, step-grandson of the owner, who was doing the selling today from the farm’s compact stand.

Four varieties are currently offered: Sutsuma mandarins, Cara Cara pink navels, Murcott mandarins and blood oranges (pictured), which are intriguing due to their crimson-colored flesh. According to Wikipedia, the dark color is “due to the presence of anthocyanins, a family of pigments commone to flowers and fruit, but uncommon in citrus fruits. The degree of coloration depends on light, temperature and variety.”